Apparatus for dispensing lighted cigarettes



Feb. 20, 1968 N. KOVACEVIC 3,369,701-

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIGHTED CIGARETTES Filed Aug. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 4 5 INVENTOR.

BORIS N. KOVACfV/C Feb. 20, 1968 B. N. KOVACEVIC 3,359,701

APPARATUS FOR DIsPENSING LIGHTED CIGARETTES Filed Aug 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 48 7 74 72 2 INVENTUR I 506 /5 N. KOVACE-IQ/{C BY .4 W flaw J/UW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,369,701 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIGHTED CIGARETTES Boris N. Kovacevic, 4419 N. Christiana, Chicago, Ill. 60625 Filed Aug. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 574,780 Claims. (Cl. 221-147) This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing lighted cigarettes and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus for storing a quantity of cigarettes and for automatically dispensing a lighted cigarette as desired.

There is shown in my copending application Ser. No. 486,618 filed Sept. 13, 1965, now Patent No. 3,307,741 apparatus for dispensing lighted cigarettes comprising, generally, a housing having a cigarette chute or support rack therein for holding a supply of cigarettes and permitting them to move down an inclined surface to one end of the chute or rack. Ignition means are provided adjacent the discharge end of the chute for lighting a selected cigarette. Cigarette support means including a shaft member having fingers thereon are provided for moving the cigarette one at a time past the ignition means. There are actuating means in the apparatus operatively connected to the cigarette support means for controlling movement of the shaft member to pick up a cigarette from the chute, to move the cigarette to a place where it can be lit, to move the cigarette to a release station in the housing Where it can be grasped by a user, and then to return the shaft member to its initial position for receiving another cigarette. The present application relates to an improved device of the general type disclosed in said copending application Ser. No. 486,618.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism having means for moving the cigarettes one at a time from a storage chute or rack to an ignition position, with timing means being provided to control the length of the ignition cycle and cooperating with stop means for releasing the cigarette from the ignition position for movement to a discharge position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combined cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism which is relatively compact, simple in construction, efiicient in operation and more economical to manufacture than prior like constructions. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter.

The attached drawings illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism, with a portion of the cover being broken away tobetter illustrate the internal components of the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism, more clearly illustrating the construction of the timing means and stop mechanism within the housing;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism showing the cigarette support means and the actuator arrangement therefor;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the combination cigarette lighter and the dispenser mechanism taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a crosssectional view of the combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 2, and illustrating the at rest position for the operating components;

3,369,701 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the timing means in position wherein the timing switch is closed and the finger means on the cigarette support means are positioned for receiving a cigarette from the inclined chute within the housing of the combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7, but illustrating the position of the finger means on the cigarette support means when a selected cigarette is positioned for lighting thereof, and with the timing switch closed; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating the timing switch open at the conclusion of an ignition cycle, with a lighted cigarette on the discharge position at one end of the housing of the combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the combination cigarette lighter and dispenser mechanism 10 of the present invention comprises a box-like housing 12 having a cover 14 pivotally or otherwise movably secured thereon. The movability of the cover with respect to the housing permits access to the interior of the housing for repair of the operating mechanism and also permits ready access to the cigarette chute or rack within the housing 12 for filling thereof.

Provided within the housing 12 is a cigarette supporting rack or chute comprising side walls and an elongated, inclined planar member 16. The base member 16 of the chute is suitably supported at an inclined position within the housing 12 so as to provide for gravity feed of the cigarettes. A wall 17 movable transversely of the member 16 may be adjustably supported on member 16 for permitting accommodation of different length cigarettes on the chute.

Cigarette support and moving means are provided adjacent the end of the chute 16 for receiving a selected cigarette and moving same to a position for ignition. The cigarette support and moving means comprises a shaft 18 journaled at its ends in the side walls 15 of the chute member afiixed within the housing 12 and cam means or finger means 22 extending at right angles to the shaft 18 and having a configuration for receiving a single cigarette, while at the same time retaining the succeeding cigarettes on the end of the discharge chute 16.

The shaft 18 is rotated by means including a lever 24 secured to one end of the shaft 18 and an L-shaped lever arm 26 secured to the lever 24 and movable therewith. The elongated front portion of the lever arm 26 is operatively connected to a push bar mechanism 28 that is pivotally secured at the front end of the housing 12. As will be more clearly set forth hereinafter, upon movement of the push bar 28 about its pivot axis, the lever 24 will be moved to rotate shaft 18 to cause a single cigarette to be moved from the end of the discharge chute to an ignition position.

Spring 30 connected between the rear end of the lever arm 26 and the side wall of housing 12 is adapted to bias the shaft 18in an opposite direction for restoring the shaft to its starting position upon release of push bar 28.

The selected cigarette to be lit is retained in the ignition or lighting position by stop means that include a shaft 32 rotatably secured in the housing and having stops 34 thereon for engaging with and retaining the selected cigarette.

Disposed at one end of the ignition station and indicated generally by the numeral 36 is an ignition means which preferably comprises a coiled resistance element.

Timing means are provided in the housing for controlling the length of the ignition cycle. The timing means include a timing switch mechanism 40 pivotally secured in the housing and adapted to be operatively connected to the push bar 28 for actuation thereby. The timing switch in the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a bimetallic element 42 having a contact thereon adapted to engage with a fixed contact on bracket 44 for closing the circuit to the resistance element of the ignition means 36. At the end of a predetermined period of time, during which the cigarette is lit, the bimetallic element 42 (which is heated by a heater) will warp to disengage itself from the fixed contact and the counterweight portion 46 of the switch mechanism will cause the switch mechanism to rotate in an opposite direction so as to positively free the contact on the bimetallic element from the fixed contact. Simultaneously with the movement of the switch means from the contact engaging position to its initial starting position, the shaft 32 is rotated by suitable linkage operatively con nected to the switch means for releasing the cigarette from the ignition place and permitting it to roll down an inclined member into abutment with flange 48 at the front of the housing, where the cigarette may be grasped by the user.

It is seen from the foregoing that actuation of the push bar means 28 will cause actuation of the cigarette support and moving means to move a selected cigarette from the chute 16 to an ignition position adjacent the ignition or heating means 36. The stop means including the shaft 32 and stops 34 carried thereon will hold the selected cigarette in ignition position. Simultaneously with actuation of the cigarette support means, the switch mechanism 40 is pivoted to close an electrical switch thereby energizing the heating means 36. At the same time the bimetallic heater is energized and after a predetermined time the bimetallic element is warmed sufficiently to warp and be released from the fixed contact. The counterweight portion 46, after release of the contact on the bimetallic member from the fixed contact on bracket 44 causes pivoting of the switch means to its start position. The linkage operatively connecting the timing switch to the shaft 32, rotates shaft 32 to release the stops 34 from the cigarette and permit the cigarette to be moved by gravity from the ignition position to a discharge position adjacent the front of the dispenser mechanism 10, where the cigarette may be grasped by the user.

Louvered openings 15 are provided in the top of the cover 14. The louvers are disposed generally over the region of the ignition means 36 so that any smoke rising from a lit cigarette may readily be discharged from the interior of the housing 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is better illustrated the timing means of the present invention. The timing switch is pivotally secured on the pivot 52 secured to the housing wall. The body 45 of the switch mechanism includes an end 46 that is weighted so as to tend to pivot the switch mechanism clockwise about the pivot 52 as viewed in FIG. 3. The end 46 of the switch mechanism engages with the push bar 28 and is pivoted counterclockwise when the push bar 28 is actuated for engaging and latching the contact on the flanged end of the bimetallic element 42 with the contact on the bracket 44. The bracket 44 is suitably secured to a support member 54 carried by bracket means 55 on the base 13 of the housing 12. Stop member 56 secured to the body 45 functions to limit movement of the bimetallic element as it is heated.

Disposed in intimate heat exchange relationship with the bimetallic element 42 that is suitably affixed at one end to body 45 is a bimetallic heater element 58. The heater element 58 is in circuit with the switch and is adapted to heat the bimetallic element 42 when the circuit is closed. Heating the bimetallic element 42 by means of the heater 58 causes warping of the bimetal and opening of the switch mechanism to terminate the ignition cycle.

As seen in FIG. 3, an electrical lead 60, adapted to be connected at one end to a suitable source of power, is connected at the other end to one side of the electric ignition resistance wire 37. The other end of the electrical resistance wire 37 is connected by means of a lead 62 to heater 58 which is in turn connected to bimetal 42. The heater 58 may comprise a coil of resistance wire physically arranged in intimate heat transfer relationship with the bimetal 42. Switch bracket 44 is connected by means of a lead wire 64 back to the source of electrical power.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown the cigarette support and moving means of the present invention. One end of the lever arm 26 is engaged in an elongated recess formed within the push bar 28. As aforenoted the push bar 28 is pivoted about the pivot 66 on the housing 12. Pivoting the push bar 28 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 will cause the shaft 18 to be rotated clockwise through the lever arm 26 and the lever 24. The enlarged portion of the finger means 22 will move into the recesses 17 in the inclined guide or base 16 so as to permit a cigarette to move down the guide 16 onto the recess 22a defined in each finger 22 by means of the hook portion 2212. Upon release of the push bar 28, the shaft 18 will be rotated in an opposite direction by means of the spring 30 which is affixed at one end to the housing 12 and at the other end to the lever arm 26. As the shaft 18 rotates counterclockwise, the selected cigarette carried in the recesses 22:: will be moved to an ignition position and the enlarged portion of each finger means 22 will be raised so as to prevent another cigarette from moving onto the cigarette holder means.

Stops 34 on the shaft 32 will engage and retain the cigarette in the ignition position, with one end of the cigarette adjacent to the heater 37. The stop members 34 comprise generally sinusoidal members secured intermediate the ends thereof to the shaft 32. The upright portions 34a of the stop members 34 engage with and hold a cigarette in place. The rear portions 34b cooperate with the portion 34a to retain a cigarette in ignition position and the ends of rear portions 34b function as stops to limit pivotal rotation of the shaft 32 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5 for example.

After the cigarette has been lit, the shaft 32 is rotated to move the portion 34:: of each stop member 34 downward and thereby permit the cigarette to move over the portion 34a onto the incline 70 for movement to a discharge position. The lit cigarette is retained in place in the housing by means of the flanged portion 48 on the forward end of the bottom wall.

The function of the improved combination cigarette lighter and dispenser will now best be understood by reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9. In FIG. 6 there is illustrated the position of the components in the neutral or at rest position. A supply of cigarettes C is supported in the chute on base 16 thereof. The forwardmost cigarette is in abutment with the finger means 22 carried on the shaft 18. The timing switch is open.

Referring to FIG. 7, it is seen that when the push bar 28 is actuated by urging the upper portion downwardly, the timing switch body 45 is pivoted about its pivot point 52 to engage the contact 42a on the bimetallic member 42 with the contact 44a on the contact bracket 44. This will close a circuit to the resistance coil 37 and energize the coil. At the same time that the timing switch body 45 is actuated by the push bar 28 to engage and latch the contacts 42a and 44a, the lever 26 is actuated to pivot shaft 18 to cause the finger means 22 to receive a cigarette in recess 22a.

As seen in FIG. 8, upon release of the push bar 28, the shaft 18 will be rotated by spring 30 to move a cigarette into position adjacent the ignition coil. The timing switch remains closed since there is a latch-type cooperation between the contacts 42a and 44a. The cigarette is retained in ignition position by means of the stop m ln 34 on the shaft 32. Since the ignition means 36 is energized, the cigarette will be lit.

After a predetermined length of time, sufficient heat will be generated by the heater 58 disposed in heat exchange relationship with the bimetallic element 42 to heat the element 42 so as to warp same away from the bracket 44 and towards stop 56 to thereby disengage the contacts 42a and 44a.

Upon separation .of the contacts 42a and 440, the counterweight portion 46 of the timing switch will cause the timing switch to pivot about the pivot 52 toward engagement with the central extruded portion 28c of the push bar 28 which cooperates with the push bar to define a cavity or recess 28a for receiving the end of the body 45. The forward end of lever arm 26 is received in recess 28a in push bar 28. The short lever 72 that is secured to the shaft 32 adjacent an end thereof is pivotally connected to a connecting link 74 pivotally secured at one end to the lever 72 and at the other end to the body 45 of the timing switch. Thus, it becomes evident that as the timing switch pivots to the position shown in FIG. 9 the shaft 32 will be rotated counterclockwise to permit the lit cigarette to move pas-t the stop member and roll down the incline 70 to a position adjacent the flange 48 where it may be gripped by the operator.

The present invention provides an improved combination cigarette lighter and dispenser which is fully automatic to move a cigarette from a storage position into position where it may be ignited and then to a position where a user can grasp it readily. The device is compact and may be readily assembled for economy of manufacture. The cigarette support and moving means and the timing means which cooperate with the ignition means in the device are simultaneously actuated by a single push bar member which extends across the front of the device. Stop means operatively connected with the timing means function to hold a selected cigarette at the ignition station and to release same after ignition for movement to a discharge place.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiment but may be otherwise practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination cigarette lighter and dispenser comprising a housing; a cigarette chute in said housing forsupporting a plurality of cigarettes, said chute having a discharge end; ignition means disposed adjacent one side of the chute approximate said discharge end for lighting a selected cigarette; cigarette support and moving means for moving individual cigarettes successively to a lighting position, said cigarette support and moving means including a shaft journaled in the housing transversely of the line of movement of the cigarettes in the chute and finger means on the shaft for engaging with and supporting a single cigarette; timing means for energizing the ignition means and for controlling the length of the ignition cycle; stop means operatively connected to the timing means for receiving a cigarette from the cigarette support means and retaining same at the lighting position during the ignition cycle, and releasing same at the end of the ignition cycle; and push bar means movably supported on the housing for actuating the cigarette support means and the timing means, the timing means including a bimetallic switch element pivotally supported in the housing and adapted to be rotated into engagement with a fixed switch contact upon actuation of the push bar means, a heater in heat transfer relationship with the bimetallic switch element, the bimetallic switch element being releasable from the fixed contact upon being heated by the heater so as to release the bimetallic switch element from the fixed switch contact, and means for urging the bimetallic switch element away from the fixed switch contact.

2. A combination cigarette lighter and dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said ignition means comprises an electric resistance element.

3. A combination cigarette lighter and dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said shaft is rotated in one direction upon actuation of the push bar means and is rotated in an opposition direction by a spring.

4. A combination cigarette lighter and dispenser comprising a housing; a cigarette chute in said housing for supporting a plurality of cigarettes, said chute having a discharge end; ignition means disposed adjacent one side of the chute approximate said discharge end for lighting a selected cigarette; cigarette support and moving means for moving individual cigarettes successively to a lighting position, said cigarette support and moving means including a shaft journ'aled in the housing transversely of the line of movement of the cigarettes in the chute and finger means on the shaft for engaging with and supporting a single cigarette; timing means for energizing the ignition means and for controlling the length of the ignition cycle; stop means operatively connected to the timing means for receiving a cigarette from the cigarette support means and retaining same at the lighting position during the ignition cycle, and releasing same at the end of the ignition cycle; and push bar means pivotally supported on the housing and operatively connected to the cigarette support and moving means and to the timing means for simultaneously actuating same, the timing means including a switch member pivotally supported in the housing, the switch member including a bimetallic element urged into engagement with contact means fixed with respect to the housing upon rotation of the switch member in one direction by the push bar means, said switch member including a counterweight portion for pivoting the switch member in an opposite direction about its pivot point on the housing and a heater in a heat exchange relation with the bimetallic element, whereby actuation of the push bar means will engage said switch member and said contact means to close an electrical circuit to heat the ignition means, and said heater, and whereby, after a predetermined time, upon sufiicient heating of the heater, the bimetallic element will warp away from the contact means to open the circuit and the counterweight portion will cause pivoting of the switch member to its initial position.

5. A combination cigarette lighter and dispenser as in claim 4 wherein the stop means includes a shaft member rotatably supported in the housing and stops on the shaft member, said shaft member being operatively connected to the switch member and responsive to movement thereof so as to be rotatable between a position for retaining a cigarette at the lighting place and a position for releasing the cigarette from the lighting place.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,108,376 2/1938 Copeland 221-l47 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,873 7/1964 Australia.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND DISPENSER COMPRISING A HOUSING; A CIGARETTE CHUTE IN SAID HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF CIGARETTES, SAID CHUTE HAVING A DISCHARGE END; IGNITION MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF THE CHUTE APPROXIMATE SAID DISCHARGE END OF LIGHTING A SELECTED CIGARETTE; CIGARETTE SUPPORT AND MOVING MEANS FOR MOVING INDIVIDUAL CIGARETTES SUCCESSIVELY TO A LIGHTING POSITION, SAID CIGARETTE SUPPORT AND MOVING MEANS INCLUDING A SHAFT JOURNALED IN THE HOUSING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LINE OF MOVEMENT OF THE CIGARETTES IN THE CHUTE AND FINGER MEANS ON THE SHAFT FOR ENGAGING WITH AND SUPPORTING A SINGLE CIGARETTE; TIMING MEANS FOR ENERGIZING THE IGNITION MEANS AND FOR CONTROLLING THE LENGTH OF THE IGNITION CYCLE; STOP MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE TIMING MEANS FOR RECEIVING A CIGARETTE FROM THE CIGARETTE SUPPORT MEANS AND RETAINING SAME AT THE LIGHTING POSITION DURING THE IGNITION CYCLE, AND RELEASING SAME AT THE END OF THE IGNITION CYCLE AND PUSH BAR MEANS MOVABLE SUPPORTED ON THE HOUSING FOR ACTUATING THE CIGARETTE SUPPORT MEANS AND THE TIMING MEANS, THE TIMING MEANS INCLUDING A BIMETALLIC SWITCH ELEMENT PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED IN THE HOUSING AND ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A FIXED SWITCH CONTACT UPON ACTUATION OF THE PUSH BAR MEANS, A HEATER IN HEAT TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BIMETALLIC SWITCH ELEMENT, THE BIMETALLIC SWITCH ELEMENT BEING RELEASABLE FROM THE FIXED CONTACT UPON BEING HEATED BY THE HEATED SO AS TO RELEASE THE BIMETALLIC SWITCH ELEMENT FROM THE FIXED SWITCH CONTACT, AND MEANS FOR URGING THE BIMETALLIC SWITCH ELEMENT AWAY FROM THE FIXED SWITCH CONTACT. 